NEWS RELEASE

From the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust August 20, 2016

This year’s grants from the EMERY RAIL HERITAGE TRUST, established by the late John H. Emery, have been announced. John was a long time Chicago resident who was an avid rail enthusiast who loved to ride trains around the world, and wanted to help preserve rail equipment and infrastructure that will allow future generations to share his experiences during what he considered the “Golden Age” of railroads, from 1920 – 1960.
Twenty-eight applications were received requesting in excess of $650,000; 24 grants were awarded totaling $210,000.
Grants were approved for the following organizations/projects:

• Bay Area Electric Railroad Association, $10,000 for producing impossible-to-find brake shoes, designated the Key System Interurban Brake Shoe casting project.

• Branford Electric Railway Association, $5,000 for mechanical repairs to the ex-Cincinnati & Lake Erie car #116.

• Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust, $10,000 toward restoration of the EBGX 5038 heavyweight passenger car for use on the line.

• Cuyahoga Valley Preservation & Scenic Railway Association, $7,500 for exterior work on CVRS coach #6217.

• Engine 557 Restoration Company, $9,000 for continued work toward the restoration and operation of Alaska Railroad engine #557.

• Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, $5,000 for work on a new tool car to accompany NKP #765 while on the road.

• Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, $10,000 toward truck and brake work on RPO car #054.

• Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley, RHS, $10,000 towards restoration of ex-B&M steam engine #3713.

• Michigan State Trust for Railway Preservation, $8,700 for upholstery upgrades for several coaches used on their local excursions.

• Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society, $10,000 for work on ex-DL&W coach 595.

• Minnesota Transportation Museum, $4,000 for a brake rebuild on their GN F-7 #454-A.

• National Railroad Museum, $7,700 towards continued work on the ex-CB&Q diner lounge Silver Spirit.

• Washington, DC Chapter, NRHS, $10,000 for conversion to mechanical refrigeration on their sleeper buffet lounge car Dover Harbor.

• North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation, $15,000 for a replacement generator for the ex-New Haven Railroad sleeper buffet lounge car Pine Tree State.

• New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society, $9,000 for continued work on the restoration of ex-AT&SF steam engine #2926.

• Old Dominion Chapter, NRHS, $10,000 for work on ex-RF&P coach #706 for seat upholstery.

• Pacific Locomotive Association, $10,000 for work on ex-SP articulated coach #2473-2474.

• Railroading Heritage of Midwest America, $10,000 for replacement windows on their coach Lake Pepin.

• Railway Restoration Project 113, $5,000 for running gear work on their ex-CNJ 0-6-0 #113.

• Railways to Yesterday, operating as the Rockhill Trolley Museum, $5,000 for restoration work on ex-Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban car #315.

• Northwest Railway Museum, $9,000 for continued work on their ex-NP steam locomotive #924.

• Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society, $16,100 for work on their dining car Moultrie, for new kitchen equipment.

• White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, $10,000 for various upgrades to their operating coaches.
•
Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, $5,000 for an extension of their mainline trackage.

For information about applying for a 2017 grant, please check our website at http://www.emeryrailheritagetrust.com.

Point of contact: Jim Fetchero (704) 737-6377.

As a Life member and ex-Board member of Mid-Continent Rwy., I can only speak for myself but I say THANK YOU to the Emery Rail Trust for past and continuing support of our efforts. mld

As Secretary/Treasurer of the Engine 557 Restoration Company, I want to again express my thanks and add the thanks from the board and volunteers who have spent the last four years working to return Alaska Railroad Consolidation #557 to operation. Following our notification by the Trust we have moved foreword with arrangements to have our expert come to Alaska later this year to start the process and teach us the fine art of stay installation.

Let me join the chorus of thank yous to the John Emery Rail Heritage Trust for choosing the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum as a 2016 grant recipient. Work is well underway on our northward track extension, and their funds will help pay for the materials and supplies needed to bridge a major washout that exists where the rails currently end.

Project3713 is honored to be on the list of this year's grant recipients. We have a lot of momentum on both the fundraising and restoration side right now, and this grant is a major boost.

Thank you from all of us working towards bringing #3713 back to life,

Rob Davis
Project3713